How to Reset a Minn Kota Circuit Breaker (4 Easy Steps)
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If your Minn Kota circuit breaker does not reset after tripping, the problem may be with the circuit breaker. This article will show you how to reset the Minn Kota circuit breaker.
The circuit breaker is critical to protecting your Minn Kota outboard trolling motor. The breakers have several amperage ratings suitable for all possible trolling motor wires. However, there are times when the circuit breaker may trip and need to be reset. All you have to do is follow four simple steps.
To reset the Minn Kota circuit breaker
- Deactivate system
- Press the button on the breaker
- The lever will automatically pop out
- Press the lever back until you hear a click
- Activate system
I'll go into more detail below.
How a trolling motor works
Before I explain how to reset the Minn Kota circuit breaker for your boat trolling motor system, I must explain how the trolling motor works.
The engine system mainly includes:
- Electrical engine
- Propeller
- Multiple controls
It can be controlled manually or wirelessly.
Its electrical system works with double vanes that respond to thermal energy. As the electric current passes through the system, the moving electrons generate heat. Metal strips bend when exposed to heat.
The switch is activated as soon as the metal strips are sufficiently bent. Note that it cannot be reset until these strips have cooled down.
Why is it important to have a trolling motor circuit breaker?
For the trolling motor to work, it must be connected to a battery.
To connect the motor to the battery, the correct wire sizes must be selected based on the American Wire Gauge (AWG). The negative pole of the battery must be connected to a switch.
If the wiring is incorrect or a power surge occurs, the circuit breaker will trip, preventing most possible electrical damage.
Possible reasons for shutdown
Switch tripping is not uncommon. Common causes of circuit breaker tripping are:
- Faulty breaker; This wears off over time. In addition, increased heat can cause premature operation.
- broken wire may touch grounded parts, causing the battery to be grounded.
- Wire Gauges, when using the wire under full load, will most likely cause a voltage drop and an increase in current.
- Smaller jackhammer, after heavy load use, the internal temperature rises to the point where the breaker turns off.
- Tangled trolley motorWhen a fishing line is tied around the motor or debris found in the water, the battery will produce much more power to operate the device. This extra power can cause the circuit breaker to trip.
Remember that once a circuit breaker trips, it is more likely to trip again at lower voltage points.
Manual reset of the circuit breaker
In the simplest case, the switch operates without being damaged.
1. Turn off the load
The best step is to turn off the system.
This action will allow you to test the electrical system without the risk of electrical shock. Once you have deactivated the battery, you can proceed to the next step.
2. Find the reset button
Each interrupt device has a reset button.
This button resets the switch but does not automatically activate the system. However, it allows, after the third step, to pass the electric current through the system again.
You will most likely find it on the back of the device.
3. Find the lever that popped out
After you press the reset button, the lever next to the switch will pop out.
You can hear a click as soon as it pops up. To allow current to flow, you must press this lever until you hear a click.
Be aware that the lever may break when transporting the device. In this case, you need to return the lever to its original position.
4. Work with the system
Once the lever is in place, you can turn on the system.
If the battery powers the trolling motor, you know that nothing else is needed.
If the battery does not activate the device, you may have a faulty switch and it needs to be replaced.
Take a look at some of our articles below.
- What is smart power supply
- How to connect a circuit breaker
- How to connect 2 amps with one power wire
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